Checkpoint FOR TUESDAY 24 JANUARY 2012
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Fonterra says families will miss out on cheaper milk under proposals out today to shake up the rules governing competition in the dairy market. The proposals follow years of New Zealanders complaining they pay too much for milk. They'd force Fonterra to share more of its milk with six or so independent processors. But it says the extra cost of doing that will hurt consumers in the end. However the Government says the changes proposed by MAF and which would include an annual milk price monitoring regime by the Commerce Commission, will make dairying more transparent and efficient. We expect to hear from the Minister of Agriculture later in the programme. Fonterra's chair Henry van der Heyden says handing over more raw milk to increasingly foreign-owned dairy companies will cost the farmer-owned cooperative 200 million dollars a year. pre-rec
The new Labour leader is vowing to repair his party's relations with the Ratana Church, as rival politicians start the year with their annual pilgrimage to court Maori at Ratana Pa. But rival National says Labour's already lost its historic links with Ratana.
David Shearer told church members on his first visit to the annual celebrations of the birth of the prophet Ratana near Whanganui, that the party has ground to make up. cut The Ratana Church is reviewing its alliance with Labour, which dates back to the first Labour Government. The chair of the Church's executive, Waka Palmer, says a lot has changed since. cut The Prime Minister, John Key, was welcomed on to the Ratana marae alongside the Maori Party co-leader, Pita Sharples. Mr Key is downplaying the church's links to Labour. cut MPs from the Green Party, New Zealand First and Mana, also made an appearance at the Ratana celebrations. reader
Our political reporter Demelza Leslie joins us now live from Ratana near Whanganui. live
A homicide investigation is underway in Rotorua after a man in his 60's was found dead in Kuirau Park early this morning. The man had suffered serious injuries, including to his head, and police have now removed his body from the scene. Our reporter Lorna Perry has been at the latest news conference and she joins us now. live
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH
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Turkey has reacted with fury after the French senate approved a bill making it a criminal offence to deny that a genocide was committed by Ottoman Turks against Armenians during the First World War. Anyone who does so could face a jail sentence. Turkey's Justice Minister has described the vote as unjust and lacking any respect for his country. The Armenian Foreign Minister says the French vote will go down in the annals of history for the protection of human rights.Turkey wasted no time in retaliating against France as Bernadette Carol reports from Paris. pkg
Three people have been rescued from a sinking fishing vessel off the coast of Tauranga. Maritime New Zealand says an 18-metre long liner, the Rebecca May, sent off a beacon alert which was picked up by the Rescue Coordination Centre at about midday. A nearby fishing boat picked up the crew from a life-raft an hour and a half later. Joining us now is a search and rescue officer, Chris Wilson. live
The Prime Minister, John Key, says the Immigration Minister in 2010 knew about Kim Dotcom's application for residency. The founder of the company, MegaUpload, was arrested on Friday, and the United States is seeking his extradition on internet piracy charges. Mr Dotcom is waiting for a decision from the North Shore District Court on whether he will be allowed bail. The Labour and New Zealand First parties want an inquiry into why the German millionaire was given residency in 2010, despite a previous fraud conviction. The Labour leader, David Shearer, says it is strange that a year later in 2011, the Overseas Investment Office turned down his request to buy the mansion he was living in near Auckland. cut The Prime Minister, John Key, says the tests for the buying land under the Overseas Investment Act, and seeking residency, are different. And, he says immigration officials are looking again at the way they dealt with the residency application. cut Mr Key says the Immigration Minister at the time, Jonathan Coleman, knew about the circumstances of Kim Dotcom's application. cut Mr Key believes Doctor Coleman was told about the case by officials. cut John Key says he had never heard of Kim Dotcom until he was briefed on the current court case by the Solicitor General. He also says that to the best of his knowledge, none of his Ministers have socialised with the German man. reader
In the latest effort to increase the pressure on Tehran, the European Union has announced its toughest sanctions yet, including a ban on imports of Iranian oil into Europe which is Iran's second largest market. The European foreign ministers also agreed to freeze the assets of Iran's central bank with the aim of cutting off funding for its nuclear activities. The BBC's Europe Editor Gavin Hewitt reports from Brussels. pkg
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The Government says a new way of setting milk prices will be fairer. But Fonterra is warning it will cost it 200 million dollars and as a result families will miss out on cheaper milk. The MAF proposals to shake up the rules governing competition in the dairy market are out today and open for feedback. Fonterra has immediately gone on the attack - saying being forced to share more of its milk with the six or so major independent processors will benefit their foreign owners. The Primary Industries Minister David Carter joins us now. live
Seventeen tents belonging to occupy protestors are still up in Auckland's Aotea Square despite the Council's attempt to clear the area yesterday. Meanwhile the police are refusing to be interviewed about why three officers involved in yesterdays crackdown at the square were wearing identical ID badges. They saying it's an employment matter that is being investigated. The Police Minister also declined to be interviewed, saying it's a matter for the police. Our reporter Olivia Wix joins us now from Aotea Square. live
Two people have died and hundreds have been evacuated as floodwaters continue to rise in Fiji. Some schools and roads have been closed, some since Saturday, and Nadi Town is also flooded. Jessica Horne reports. pkg
A leading team of researchers say the chance of a big earthquake rocking Tokyo within the next few years could be as high as 70 percent. The group from the University of Tokyo is basing that on data gathered from the growing number of quakes in the capital since the deadly shake and tsunami in March last year. To tell us more the ABC's Mark Willacy is on the line from Japan now. live
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17.45 MANU KORIHI
MANUKORIHI NEWS
Tēnā koe Susie anei ngā kawenga kōrero mai i te ao Māori,
A senior minister in the Ratana church, says the Labour Party's invitation for the Ratana movement to meet with its caucus, is essential after the low turnout by Māori at last November's general election.
Hundreds of people have descended today on Ratana Pā near Whanganui to celebrate the birth of the faith's founder, Tahu Pōtiki Wiremu Ratana, who was born on January the 25th 1873.
Labour's leader, David Shearer, extended the invitation during his speech this afternoon on the marae.
An Auckland Ratana Church Minister, Robin Muru, says the offer shows the party is reaching out.
RATANA-ROBIN-TP
IN:...THE SIGNS WERE THERE
OUT:...SIGN OF REACHING OUT.
DUR:...17"
Robin Muru a senior minister in the Ratana church.
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follows:
Meanwhile the head of the Ratana Church's Executive Committee says this year will be the first time that a Governor General who's also a member of the movement, will be officially welcomed onto the marae near Whanganui.
Waka Paama says he's pleased Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Matepārae will be visiting Ratana tomorrow.
He says the church's proud that one of its mōrehu or members has risen to such a high office.
Mr Paama says he's looking forward to hearing the Governor General's speech.
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The Chairman of the Ngāti Kurī Trust Board in the Far North, says it's a bonus that the first piece of land the iwi's ever bought, includes a productive avocado orchard.
Harry Burkhardt says the purchase of just over three-hundred hectares near Ngātaki north of Kaitāia's about self-determination, and the first step in the tribe's plan to rebuild its economic base.
NGATI KURI BONUS TP
IN.......THAT ORCHARD
OUT...GRAZING CATTLE ON.
DUR....21"
Harry Burkhardt says the iwi paid for the block from its own resources, and it isn't part of the Ngāti Kurī Treaty Settlement process.
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The Ministry of Fisheries Gisborne based Operations Manager's disappointed that locals and visitors wanting a meal of kaimoana, continue to ignore the fishing regulations.
Tom Teneti says in the week after Christmas fisheries officers handed out only a few infringement notices to people taking undersized pāua and crayfish.
But last week during patrols of popular fishing spots north of Gisborne, they issued almost eight-thousand dollars worth of notices in three days.
He says there are a lot of crayfish about which is a good sign, but most of them don't meet the legal minimum size.
Tom Teneti says although people are still breaking the law, the level of offending's lower than it's been, which suggests MAF's zero tolerance enforcement programme's paying off.
That's Te Manu Korihi news, I'll have a further bulletin in an hour.
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A kiwifruit grower is admitting planting a new strain of Golden Kiwifruit without a proper licence. But he says that's because he's struggling to survive after most of his crop was destroyed due to the virulent PSA disease. Teresa Cowie reports. pkg
To the Australian Open in Melbourne now where our tennis correspondent Dave Luddy is watching the action - he joins us now. live